U.S. patent number 10,499,738 [Application Number 15/996,679] was granted by the patent office on 2019-12-10 for slide rail assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to King Slide Technology Co., Ltd., King Slide Works Co., Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is King Slide Technology Co., Ltd., King Slide Works Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ken-Ching Chen, Chun-Chiang Wang, Shun-Ho Yang, Kai-Wen Yu.
View All Diagrams
United States Patent |
10,499,738 |
Chen , et al. |
December 10, 2019 |
Slide rail assembly
Abstract
A slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, a
mounting member, a third rail, a fourth rail and an engaging
member. The mounting member includes a first part, a second part
and a third part. The first part and the second part are connected
to the third part and respectively extended along different
directions. The third rail is connected to the first part of the
mounting member, and the third rail is movable relative to the
first rail. The fourth rail is connected to the second part of the
mounting member, and the second rail is movable relative to the
fourth rail. The engaging member is movably mounted to the mounting
member. The engaging member is configured to allow the mounting
member to be synchronously moved with the second rail along a
predetermined direction.
Inventors: |
Chen; Ken-Ching (Kaohsiung,
TW), Yang; Shun-Ho (Kaohsiung, TW), Yu;
Kai-Wen (Kaohsiung, TW), Wang; Chun-Chiang
(Kaohsiung, TW) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
King Slide Works Co., Ltd.
King Slide Technology Co., Ltd. |
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung |
N/A
N/A |
TW
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
King Slide Works Co., Ltd.
(Kaohsiung, TW)
King Slide Technology Co., Ltd. (Kaohsiung,
TW)
|
Family
ID: |
62904356 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/996,679 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20190200758 A1 |
Jul 4, 2019 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 28, 2017 [TW] |
|
|
106146673 A |
Mar 26, 2018 [TW] |
|
|
107110588 A |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16C
29/04 (20130101); A47B 88/443 (20170101); A47B
88/477 (20170101); A47B 88/487 (20170101); A47B
88/45 (20170101); A47B 88/493 (20170101); A47B
2210/0081 (20130101); A47B 2210/0059 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
88/48 (20170101); A47B 88/443 (20170101); A47B
88/487 (20170101); A47B 88/49 (20170101); F16C
29/04 (20060101); A47B 88/477 (20170101); A47B
88/47 (20170101); A47B 88/44 (20170101); A47B
88/45 (20170101); A47B 88/493 (20170101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4028877 |
|
Mar 1991 |
|
DE |
|
803331 |
|
Oct 1958 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Roersma; Andrew M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kamrath; Alan D. Williams; Karin L.
Mayer & Williams PC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A slide rail assembly, comprising: a first rail; a second rail;
a mounting member comprising a first part, a second part and a
third part, wherein the first part and the second part are
connected to the third part and respectively extended along
different directions; a third rail connected to the first part of
the mounting member, wherein the third rail is movable relative to
the first rail; a fourth rail connected to the second part of the
mounting member, wherein the second rail is movable relative to the
fourth rail; an engaging member movably mounted to the mounting
member; and an elastic member configured to provide an elastic
force to the engaging member; wherein when the second rail is moved
from a retracted position to a first predetermined position along a
first direction, the engaging member is engaged with the second
rail in response to the elastic force of the elastic member, so as
to allow the mounting member to be synchronously moved with the
second rail along the first direction; wherein the fourth rail
comprises a first wall, a second wall and a side wall connected
between the first wall and the second wall of the fourth rail, the
second rail comprises a first wall, a second wall and a side wall
connected between the first wall and the second wall of the second
rail, the engaging member is pivoted to the mounting member, one of
the first wall and the second wall of the fourth rail has a notch,
the notch is configured to allow an engaging part of the engaging
member to insert therein, and one of the first wall and the second
wall of the second rail has an abutting part; when the second rail
is located at the first predetermined position, the engaging part
of the engaging member contacts the abutting part, in order to
allow the second rail to drive the mounting member to move along
the first direction through the abutting part.
2. The slide rail assembly of claim 1, further comprising a working
member arranged on the first rail, wherein when the second rail is
moved from the first predetermined position to a second
predetermined position along the first direction, the engaging
member is moved by the working member to disengage the engaging
part of the engaging member from the abutting part, such that the
mounting member is no longer synchronously moved with the second
rail.
3. The slide rail assembly of claim 2, wherein the first part and
the second part are substantially perpendicularly connected to the
third part.
4. The slide rail assembly of claim 3, wherein the mounting member
has a first side and a second side, the third rail is connected to
the first part of the mounting member and located at the first side
of the mounting member, and the fourth rail is connected to the
second part of the mounting member and located at the second side
of the mounting member.
5. The slide rail assembly of claim 4, wherein the first side is
opposite to the second side.
6. The slide rail assembly of claim 4, wherein the first rail
comprises a first wall, a second wall and a side wall connected
between the first wall and the second wall of the first rail, a
first passage is defined by the first wall, the second wall and the
side wall of the first rail, and the third rail is movable relative
to the first rail through the first passage.
7. The slide rail assembly of claim 6, wherein the third rail
comprises a first wall, a second wall and a side wall connected
between the first wall and the second wall of the third rail, the
side wall of the third rail is connected to the first part of the
mounting member, and the first wall and the second wall of the
third rail are located within the first passage.
8. The slide rail assembly of claim 7, further comprising a first
slide assisting device movably mounted between the first rail and
the third rail, wherein the first slide assisting device comprises
a plurality of slide assisting members configured to be supported
between the first wall of the first rail and the first wall of the
third rail, and configured to be supported between the second wall
of the first rail and the second wall of the third rail.
9. The slide rail assembly of claim 6, wherein the first wall of
the first rail has a first section and a second section bent
relative to the first section, and the second wall of the first
rail has a third section and a fourth section bent relative to the
third section.
10. The slide rail assembly of claim 8, wherein the side wall of
the fourth rail is connected to the second part of the mounting
member, a second passage is defined by the first wall, the second
wall and the side wall of the fourth rail, and the second rail is
movable relative to the fourth rail through the second passage.
11. The slide rail assembly of claim 10, wherein the first wall and
the second wall of the second rail are located within the second
passage.
12. The slide rail assembly of claim 11, further comprising a
second slide assisting device movably mounted between the fourth
rail and the second rail, wherein the second slide assisting device
comprises a plurality of slide assisting members configured to be
supported between the first wall of the second rail and the first
wall of the fourth rail, and configured to be supported between the
second wall of the second rail and the second wall of the fourth
rail.
13. The slide rail assembly of claim 12, wherein one of the first
wall and the second wall of the first rail has a positioning part;
when the mounting member is moved to a third predetermined position
along the first direction, the engaging member is engaged with the
positioning part of the first rail in response to the elastic force
of the elastic member, in order to prevent the mounting member from
being moved relative to the first rail along the first direction or
a second direction.
14. The slide rail assembly of claim 12, further comprising a
buffer member arranged on the first rail, and a contact member
arranged on the third rail, wherein when the mounting member is
moved a predetermined distance along the first direction, the
contact member contacts the buffer member for providing a buffer
effect.
15. The slide rail assembly of claim 14, wherein a first blocking
base is arranged adjacent to a front part of the first rail, the
slide rail assembly further comprises a holding base, and the
buffer member is mounted between the first blocking base and the
holding base.
16. The slide rail assembly of claim 13, wherein a second blocking
base is arranged adjacent to a front part of the fourth rail, and a
blocking member is movably connected to the second rail; when the
second rail is moved relative to the fourth rail along the first
direction to an open position, the blocking member is configured to
contact a blocking part of the second blocking base at a blocking
position, in order to prevent the second rail from being further
moved along the first direction, and an operating member is
configured to be operated to move the blocking member to be no
longer at the blocking position.
17. The slide rail assembly of claim 16, wherein when the second
rail is moved from the open position to a predetermined retracted
position along the second direction, the second rail is configured
to drive the engaging member to move, to disengage the engaging
member from the positioning part of the first rail.
18. A slide rail assembly, comprising: a first rail; a second rail;
a mounting member comprising a first part, a second part and a
third part, wherein the first part and the second part are
substantially perpendicularly connected to the third part and
respectively extended along different directions; a third rail
connected to the first part of the mounting member, wherein the
third rail is movable relative to the first rail; a fourth rail
connected to the second part of the mounting member, wherein the
second rail is movable relative to the fourth rail; and an engaging
member arranged on the mounting member, wherein the engaging member
is configured to engage with the second rail, so as to allow the
mounting member to be synchronously moved with the second rail
along a first direction; wherein the fourth rail comprises a first
wall, a second wall and a side wall connected between the first
wall and the second wall of the fourth rail, the second rail
comprises a first wall, a second wall and a side wall connected
between the first wall and the second wall of the second rail, the
engaging member is pivoted to the mounting member, one of the first
wall and the second wall of the fourth rail has a notch, the notch
is configured to allow an engaging part of the engaging member to
insert therein, and one of the first wall and the second wall of
the second rail has an abutting part; when the second rail is
located at the first predetermined position, the engaging part of
the engaging member contacts the abutting part, in order to allow
the second rail to drive the mounting member to move along the
first direction through the abutting part; wherein the slide rail
assembly further comprises a working member arranged on the first
rail; when the second rail is moved to a second predetermined
position along the first direction, the engaging member is moved by
the working member to disengage the engaging part of the engaging
member from the abutting part, such that the mounting member is no
longer synchronously moved with the second rail.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slide rail, and more
particularly, to a slide rail assembly having two or more than two
slide rails.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in FIG. 1, in a rack system 100, a carried object 102,
such as a drawer, a chassis of an electronic device or the like, is
arranged with slide rail assemblies 104 at two sides in order to be
mounted onto a rack. Wherein, the rack usually has a plurality of
posts, such as a pair of front posts 106 and a pair of rear posts
(not shown in the figure), for mounting the slide rail assemblies
104.
Furthermore, a first width W1 defined between the pair of front
posts 106 of the rack usually meets a standard specification. On
the other hand, an overall width including widths of the two slide
rail assemblies 104 at two sides (such as second widths W2) and a
width of the carried object 102 (such as a third width W3) must be
corresponding to the first width W1 of the rack. However, the
carried object 102 may have a different width due to different
market requirements (that is, the width of the carried object 102
may not be equal to the third width W3). In other words, the width
of the slide rail assembly 104 must be changed, so as to allow the
entire width of the slide rail assemblies 104 and the carried
object 102 to match the first width W1. Therefore, once the market
requires a wider carried object 102 (that is, the width of the
slide rail assembly 104 must be narrower), it is important to
develop a slide rail assembly having a limited width with improved
structural strength or supporting strength.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a slide rail assembly having two
or more than two slide rails mounted to each other through a
mounting member.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a slide rail
assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail, a mounting member,
a third rail, a fourth rail, an engaging member and an elastic
member. The mounting member comprises a first part, a second part
and a third part. The first part and the second part are connected
to the third part and respectively extended along different
directions. The third rail is connected to the first part of the
mounting member, and the third rail is movable relative to the
first rail. The fourth rail is connected to the second part of the
mounting member, and the second rail is movable relative to the
fourth rail. The engaging member is movably mounted to the mounting
member. The elastic member is configured to provide an elastic
force to the engaging member. Wherein, when the second rail is
moved from a retracted position to a first predetermined position
along a first direction, the engaging member is engaged with the
second rail in response to the elastic force of the elastic member,
so as to allow the mounting member to be synchronously moved with
the second rail along the first direction.
Preferably, the fourth rail comprises a first wall, a second wall
and a side wall connected between the first wall and the second
wall of the fourth rail. The second rail comprises a first wall, a
second wall and a side wall connected between the first wall and
the second wall of the second rail. The engaging member is pivoted
to the mounting member. One of the first wall and the second wall
of the fourth rail, has a notch. The notch is configured to allow
an engaging part of the engaging member to insert therein. One of
the first wall and the second wall of the second rail has an
abutting part. When the second rail is located at the first
predetermined position, the engaging part of the engaging member
contacts the abutting part, in order to allow the second rail to
drive the mounting member to move along the first direction through
the abutting part.
Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises a working
member arranged on the first rail. When the second rail is moved
from the first predetermined position to a second predetermined
position along the first direction, the engaging member is moved by
the working member to disengage the engaging part of the engaging
member from the abutting part, such that the mounting member is no
longer synchronously moved with the second rail.
Preferably, the first part and the second part are substantially
perpendicularly connected to the third part.
Preferably, the mounting member has a first side and a second side.
The third rail is connected to the first part of the mounting
member and located at the first side of the mounting member. The
fourth rail is connected to the second part of the mounting member
and located at the second side of the mounting member.
Preferably, the first side is opposite to the second side.
Preferably, the first rail comprises a first wall, a second wall
and a side wall connected between the first wall and the second
wall of the first rail. A first passage is defined by the first
wall, the second wall and the side wall of the first rail. The
third rail is movable relative to the first rail through the first
passage.
Preferably, the third rail comprises a first wall, a second wall
and a side wall connected between the first wall and the second
wall of the third rail. The side wall of the third rail is
connected to the first part of the mounting member. The first wall
and the second wall of the third rail are located within the first
passage.
Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises a first slide
assisting device movably mounted between the first rail and the
third rail. The first slide assisting device comprises a plurality
of slide assisting members configured to be supported between the
first wall of the first rail and the first wall of the third rail,
and configured to be supported between the second wall of the first
rail and the second wall of the third rail.
Preferably, the first wall of the first rail has a first section
and a second section bent relative to the first section. The second
wall of the first rail has a third section and a fourth section
bent relative to the third section.
Preferably, the side wall of the fourth rail is connected to the
second part of the mounting member. A second passage is defined by
the first wall, the second wall and the side wall of the fourth
rail. The second rail is movable relative to the fourth rail
through the second passage.
Preferably, the first wall and the second wall of the second rail
are located within the second passage.
Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises a second
slide assisting device movably mounted between the fourth rail and
the second rail. The second slide assisting device comprises a
plurality of slide assisting members configured to be supported
between the first wall of the second rail and the first wall of the
fourth rail, and configured to be supported between the second wall
of the second rail and the second wall of the fourth rail.
Preferably, one of the first wall and the second wall of the first
rail has a positioning part. When the mounting member is moved to a
third predetermined position along the first direction, the
engaging member is engaged with the positioning part of the first
rail in response to the elastic force of the elastic member, in
order to prevent the mounting member from being moved relative to
the first rail along the first direction or a second direction.
Preferably, the slide rail assembly further comprises a buffer
member arranged on the first rail, and a contact member arranged on
the third tail. When the mounting member is moved a predetermined
distance along the first direction, the contact member contacts the
buffer member for providing a buffer effect.
Preferably, a first blocking base is arranged adjacent to a front
part of the first rail. The slide rail assembly further comprises a
holding base. The buffer member is mounted between the first
blocking base and the holding base.
Preferably, a second blocking base is arranged adjacent to a front
part of the fourth rail. A blocking member is movably connected to
the second rail. When the second rail is moved relative to the
fourth rail along the first direction to an open position, the
blocking member is configured to contact a blocking part of the
second blocking base at a blocking position, in order to prevent
the second rail from being further moved along the first direction,
and an operating member is configured to be operated to move the
blocking member to be no longer at the blocking position.
Preferably, when the second rail is moved from the open position to
a predetermined retracted position along the second direction, the
second rail is configured to drive the engaging member to move, to
disengage the engaging member from the positioning part of the
first rail.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a slide
rail assembly comprises a first rail, a second rail, a mounting
member, a third rail, a fourth rail and an engaging member. The
mounting member comprises a first part, a second part and a third
part. The first part and the second part are substantially
perpendicularly connected to the third part and respectively
extended along different directions. The third rail is connected to
the first part of the mounting member, and the third rail is
movable relative to the first rail. The fourth rail is connected to
the second part of the mounting member, and the second rail is
movable relative to the fourth rail. The engaging member is
arranged on the mounting member. The engaging member is configured
to engage with the second rail, so as to allow the mounting member
to be synchronously moved with the second rail along a first
direction.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt
become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that
is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a rack system of the prior art.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a slide rail assembly according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the slide rail assembly according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of an area A of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the slide rail assembly
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the slide rail assembly in a retracted
state according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of an area A of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of an area B of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a second rail of the slide rail
assembly being synchronously moved with a mounting member through
an engaging member when the second rail is moved to a first
predetermined position along a first direction according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of an area A of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a working member on a first rail
contacting the engaging member during a process of the second rail
and the mounting member of the slide rail assembly being moved to a
second predetermined position along the first direction according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the mounting member being
unsynchronized with the second rail by the working member when the
second rail and the mounting member of the slide rail assembly are
moved to the second predetermined position along the first
direction according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the working member contacting the
engaging member during a process of the mounting member of the
slide rail assembly being moved to a third predetermined position
along the first direction according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the engaging member being engaged with
a positioning part of the first rail when the mounting member of
the slide rail assembly is moved to the third predetermined
position along the first direction according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the mounting member contacting a
buffer member through a contact member when the second rail is
moved to a position along the first direction according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of an area A of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the mounting member further contacting
the buffer member through the contact member when the second rail
is moved to an open position along the first direction according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of an area A of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the second rail being located at the
open position according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the second rail contacting the
engaging member during a process of the second rail of the slide
rail assembly being moved from the open position along a second
direction according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the engaging member being driven by
the second rail to be disengaged from the positioning part of first
rail during a process of the second rail of the slide rail assembly
being further moved along the second direction according to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a rack system of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in FIG. 2, a slide rail assembly 20 of the present
invention comprises a first rail 22, a second rail 24, a third rail
26, a fourth rail 28 and a mounting member 30.
As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the first rail 22 and the second rail
24 are up-down arranged and parallel to each other, such that the
first rail 22 and the second rail 24 are arranged at different
heights. In the present embodiment (please refer to FIG. 5), the
first rail 22 is arranged above the second rail 24. However, in an
alternative embodiment, the second rail 24 can be arranged above
the first rail 22. The present invention is not limited thereto.
The third rail 26 and the fourth rail 28 are respectively fixedly
connected to a first part 44a and a second part 44b of the mounting
member 30. Wherein, the third rail 26 is movable relative to the
first rail 22, and the second rail 24 is movable relative to the
fourth rail 28.
The first rail 22 comprises a first wall 32a, a second wall 32b and
a side wall 34 connected between the first wall 32a and the second
wall 32b of the first rail 22. A first passage 36 is defined by the
first wall 32a, the second wall 32b and the side wall 34. The first
rail 22 has a front part 22a and a rear part 22b.
The mounting member 30 is arranged in an N-like shape. The first
part 44a and the second part 44b of the mounting member 30 are
arranged as an upper part and a lower part respectively.
Preferably, the mounting member 30 further comprises a third part
44c. In the present embodiment, the third part 44c is substantially
a horizontal part, but the present invention is not limited
thereto. The first part 44a and the second part 44b are
substantially perpendicularly connected to two portions of the
third part 44c and respectively extended along different
directions. For example, the first part 44a is extended upward, and
the second part 44b is extended downward.
The third rail 26 is connected to the first part 44a of the
mounting member 30 and located at a first side L1 of the mounting
member 30. The third rail 26 is movable relative to the first rail
22 through the first passage 36. Wherein, the third rail 26
comprises a first wall 46a, a second wall 46b and a side wall 48
connected between the first wall 46a and the second wall 46b of the
third rail 26. The side wall 49 of the third rail 26 is connected
to the first part 44a of the mounting member 30. The first wall 46a
and the second wall 46b of the third rail 26 are located within the
first passage 36. Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further
comprises a first slide assisting device 50 movably mounted between
the first rail 22 and the third rail 26. The first slide assisting
device 50 comprises a plurality of slide assisting members, such as
a first slide assisting member 50a and a second slide assisting
member 50b. The first slide assisting member 50a and the second
slide assisting member 50b can be balls, rollers or the like. The
first slide assisting member 50a is configured to be supported
between the first wall 32a of the first rail 22 and the first wall
46a of the third rail 26. The second slide assisting member 50b is
configured to be supported between the second wall 32b of the first
rail 22 and the second wall 46b of the third rail 26. Preferably,
the first wall 32a of the first rail 22 has a first section S1 and
a second section S2 bent relative to the first section S1, and the
second wall 32b of the first rail 22 has a third section S3 and a
fourth section S4 bent relative to the third section S3. According
to such arrangement, structural strength or supporting strength of
the first rail 22 can be improved.
The fourth rail 28 is connected to the second part 44b of the
mounting member 30 and located at a second side L2 of the mounting
member 30. The second side L2 is opposite to the first side L1. The
fourth rail 28 comprises a first wall 52a, a second wall 52b and a
side wall 54 connected between the first wall 52a and the second
wall 52b of the fourth rail 26. The side wall 54 of the fourth rail
29 is connected to the second part 44b of the mounting member 30. A
second passage 56 is defined by the first wall 52a, the second wall
52b and the side wall 54 of the fourth rail 28. The second rail 24
is movable relative to the fourth rail 28 through the second
passage 56.
The second rail 24 comprises a first wall 58a, a second wall 58b
and a side wall 60 connected between the first wall 58a and the
second wall 58b of the second rail 24. The first wall 58a and the
second wall 58b of the second rail 24 are located within the second
passage 56. Preferably, the slide rail assembly 20 further
comprises a second slide assisting device 62 movably mounted
between the fourth rail 28 and the second rail 24. The second slide
assisting device 62 comprises a plurality of slide assisting
members, such as a first slide assisting member 62a and a second
slide assisting member 62b. The first slide assisting member 62a
and the second slide assisting member 62b can be balls, rollers or
the like. The first slide assisting member 62a is configured to be
supported between the first wall 58a of the second rail 24 and the
first wall 52a of the fourth rail 28, and the second slide
assisting member 62b is configured to be supported between the
second wall 58b of the second rail 24 and the second wall 52b of
the fourth rail 26.
Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the slide rail
assembly 20 further comprises an engaging member 54 and an elastic
member 66. The engaging member 64 is movably mounted to the
mounting member 30. In the present embodiment, the engaging member
64 is pivoted relative to the mounting member 30 through a shaft
member 67. The elastic member 66 has an elastic part 65 (please
also refer to FIG. 4) for providing an elastic force to the
engaging member 64. Furthermore, one of the first wall 52a and the
second wall 52b of the fourth rail 28 has a hole or a notch 68. The
notch 68 is configured to allow a first engaging part 70 of the
engaging member 64 to insert therein. Preferably, the engaging
member 64 further has a second engaging part 71. Wherein, the shaft
member 67 is located between the first engaging part 70 and the
second engaging part 71. Preferably, the elastic part 65 of the
elastic member 66 abuts against a portion of the engaging member 64
adjacent to the second engaging part 71. Preferably, one of the
first wall 58a and the second wall 58b of the second rail 24 has an
abutting part 72. In the present embodiment, the second rail 24 has
a space H (such as a hole, a groove, or a notch) for accommodating
the first engaging part 70 of the engaging member 64, and the
abutting part 72 is a wall around the space H.
Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the slide rail assembly
20 further comprises a working member 74 arranged on the first rail
22. In the present embodiment, the working member 74 is connected
to the second wall 32b of the first rail 22. The working member 74
is configured to work with the engaging member 64.
Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, one of the first wall
32a and the second wall 32b of the first rail 22 has a positioning
part 76. The positioning part 76 can be a groove, a hole or a
notch.
Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the slide rail assembly
20 further comprises a buffer member 38 arranged on the first rail
22. In the present embodiment, the buffer member 38 is arranged
adjacent to the front part 22a of the first rail 22 (please also
refer to FIG. 8), and the buffer member 38 can be a soft pad or
made of a soft, plastic material, but the present invention is not
limited thereto. Preferably, a first blocking base 40 and a holding
base 42 are arranged adjacent to the front part 22a of the first
rail 22. The buffer member 38 is mounted between the first blocking
base 40 and the holding base 42. Wherein, the buffer member 38 is
located at a position corresponding to a blocking wall 41 of the
first blocking base 40. The blocking wall 41 is configured to abut
against the buffer member 38.
Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the slide rail assembly
20 further comprises at least one contact member 78 arranged on the
third rail 26. The contact member 78 is configured to work with the
buffer member 38. The contact member 78 can be an independent
component connected to the third rail 26; or, the contact member 78
can be integrally formed on the third rail 26. In the present
embodiment, the contact member 78 is a protrusion protruded from
the side wall 48 of the third rail 26, but the present invention is
not limited thereto.
Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, a second blocking base
80 is arranged adjacent to a front part 28a of the fourth rail 28,
and a blocking member 82 is movably connected (such as pivoted) to
the side wall 60 of the second rail 24. Preferably, an elastic base
83 is configured to provide an elastic force to the blocking member
82, and an operating member 84 is configured to be operated to
deflect the blocking member 82.
As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the second rail 24 is located at a
retracted position R. Wherein, the first engaging part 70 of the
engaging member 64 abuts against the first wall 58a of the second
rail 24 through the notch 68 of the fourth rail. 28, so as to allow
the elastic member 66 (or the elastic part 65 of the elastic member
66) to accumulate an elastic force.
As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, when the second rail 24 is moved
from the retracted position R to a first predetermined position P1
along a first direction D1, the first engaging part 70 of the
engaging member 64 enters the space H of the second rail 24 and
contacts the abutting part 72 of the second rail 24 in response to
the elastic force released from the elastic member 66 (or the
elastic part 65 of the elastic member 66), such that the mounting
member 30, the third rail 26 and the fourth rail 28 can be
synchronously moved with the second rail 24 along the first
direction D1.
As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, during a process of the second
rail 24 being moved from the first predetermined position P1 to a
second predetermined position P2 along the first direction D1, the
engaging member 64 contacts the working member 74. Preferably, one
of the engaging member 64 and the working member 74 comprises a
guiding part 86, such as an inclined surface or an arc surface, in
order to guide the engaging member 64 to move. When the second rail
24 is moved to the second predetermined position P2, the engaging
member 64 is deflected by the working member 74, so as to allow the
elastic member 66 (or the elastic part 65 of the elastic member 66)
to accumulate an elastic force. Wherein, the first engaging part 70
of the engaging member 64 is disengaged from the abutting part 72
of the second rail 24, such that the mounting member 30 is no
longer synchronously moved with the second rail 24. In other words,
the second rail 24 can be independently moved relative to the first
rail 22 along the first direction D1.
As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, when the mounting member 30, the
third rail 26 and the fourth rail 28 are moved relative to the
first rail 22 along the first direction D1 to a predetermined
position, such as a third predetermined position P3, the engaging
member 64 is deflected by the elastic force released from the
elastic member 66 (or the elastic part 65 of the elastic member 661
to be engaged with the positioning part 76 of the first rail 22
through the second engaging part 71. Meanwhile, the first engaging
part 70 of the engaging member 64 is located in the notch 68 of the
fourth rail 28, in order to prevent the mounting member 30 from
being moved relative to the first rail 22 along the first direction
D1 or a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1.
Preferably, the working member 74 has a guiding section 75, such as
an inclined surface or an arc surface. Through contacting the
guiding section 75, the engaging member 64 can be guided to move
the second engaging part 71 to be engaged with the positioning part
76 of the first rail 22. Meanwhile, the mounting member 30, the
third rail 26 and the fourth rail 28 are in an open state or an
extended state relative to the first rail 22.
As shown in FIG. 15 to FIG. 19, when the mounting member 30 is in
the open state, the second rail 24 can be moved relative to the
fourth rail 28 along the first direction D1 to an open position P4,
and the blocking member 82 can contact a blocking part 81 of the
second blocking base 80 at a blocking position X1, in order to
prevent the second rail 24 from being further moved along the first
direction D1. Wherein, if the second rail 24 is pulled out to move
at high speed along the first direction D1, an impact force between
the blocking member 82 and the blocking part 81 of the second
blocking base 80 is strong accordingly. Therefore, the contact
member 73 is configured to contact the buffer member 38 to provide
a buffer effect and reduce impact noise. In the present embodiment,
the contact member 78 is configured to contact a first end part 38a
of the buffer member 38 through the holding base 42, and a second
end part 38b of the buffer member 38 is configured to abut against
the blocking wall 41 of the first blocking base 40 (as shown in
FIG. 18) for providing a buffer effect, such that the mounting
member 30 or related components of the slide rail can be protected.
Preferably, the holding base 42 is movably mounted to the first
rail 22. For example, the holding base 42 has two supporting legs
42a respectively extending into elongated grooves 27 (or elongated
holes) of the first rail 22. Therefore, the holding base 42 can be
slightly driven by the contact member 78 to push the buffer member
38, such that the buffer member 38 can abut against the blocking
wall 41 of the first blocking base 40 to provide the buffer effect.
However, in an alternative embodiment, the contact member 78 can
directly push the buffer member 38. Such arrangement can also
provide the buffer effect and protect related components of the
slide rail.
As shown in FIG. 19, when the mounting member 30, the third rail 26
and the fourth rail 28 are in the open state, the second rail 24
can be moved relative to the fourth rail 28 along the first
direction D1 to the open position P4. In addition, when a user
applies a force F to the operating member 84, a disengaging part
84a of the operating member 84 further moves the blocking member 82
to be no longer located at the blocking position X1 (for example,
the blocking member 82 is located at an unblocking position X2),
such that the blocking member 82 no longer contacts the blocking
part 81 of the second blocking base 80 to allow the second rail 24
to be further moved along the first direction D1 and detached from
the fourth rail 28. Or, when the second rail 24 is located at the
open position P4, the user can retract the second rail 24 from the
open position P4 along the second direction D2.
As shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, when the second rail 24 is moved
from the open position P4 to a predetermined retracted position P5
along the second direction D2, the second rail 24 is configured to
drive the engaging member 64 to deflect. As such, the elastic
member 66 (or the elastic part 65 of the elastic member 66)
accumulates an elastic force, and the second engaging part 71 of
the engaging member 64 is no longer engaged with the positioning
part 76 of the first rail 22. In other words, the mounting member
30 is movable relative to the first rail 22 along the second
direction D2, such that the second rail 24, the mounting member 30,
the third rail 26 and the fourth rail 28 can be retracted relative
to the first rail 22 along the second direction D2.
As shown in FIG. 22, two sides of a carried object 88 can be
mounted to a first post 90a and a second post 90b of a rack through
a pair of slide rail assemblies 20. A first width Y1 is defined
between the first post 90a and the second post 90b. Wherein, the
first width Y1 of the rack is substantially equal to the first
width W1 of the rack of the prior art (please also refer to FIG.
11. In addition, FIG. 22 only shows the first rail 22, the second
rail 24, the mounting member 30, the third rail 26 and the fourth
rail 28 of the slide rail assembly 20 for simplification.
Furthermore, the carried object 88 of the present invention has a
third width Y3 wider than the third width W3 of the carried object
102 of the prior art (as shown in FIG. 1). As such, a width of the
slide rail assembly 20 (a second width Y2) of the present invention
must be smaller than the second width W2 of the slide rail assembly
104 of the prior art. However, since the third rail 26 and the
fourth rail 28 of the present invention are respectively connected
to two different parts of the mounting member 30 in order to work
with the first rail 22 and the second rail 24, structural strength
or supporting strength of the slide rail assembly 20 can be
improved accordingly even though the width of the slide rail
assembly 20 is limited.
Therefore, the slide rail assembly of the present invention is
characterized in that:
1. The third rail 26 is movable relative to the first rail 22, and
the second rail 24 is movable relative to the fourth rail 28;
wherein the first rail 22 and the second rail 24 are up-down
arranged and parallel to each other, such that the first rail 22
and the second rail 24 are arranged at different heights. Such
arrangement is different from the slide rail assembly of the prior
art having two or more than two slide rails arranged at a same
height. The third rail 26 and the fourth rail 28 of the present
invention are connected to two different parts (such as the upper
part and the lower part) of the mounting member 30, in order to
work with the first rail 22 and the second rail 24 to meet, width
limitation. As such, the slide rail assembly 20 can comprise more
than two slide rails and have a smaller width.
2. The third rail 26 and the fourth rail 28 are connected to two
different parts of the mounting member 30 in order to work with the
first rail 22 and the second rail 24. As such, the structural
strength or supporting strength of the slide rail assembly 20 can
be improved.
3. When the second rail 24 is moved to a predetermined position
along the first direction D1, the mounting member 30, the third
rail 26 and the fourth rail 28 can be synchronously moved with the
second rail 24 through the engaging member 64.
4. When the second rail 24 is moved to an open position (such as a
completely open position), the contact member 78 is configured to
contact the buffer member 38 in order to prevent the blocking
member 82 at the blocking position X1 from directly contacting or
colliding with the blocking part 81 of the second blocking base
80.
5. In addition to allowing the mounting member 30 to be
synchronously moved with the second rail 24, the engaging member 64
is also configured to engage with the first rail 22, in order to
prevent the mounting member 30 from being moved relative to the
first rail 22 along the first direction D1 or the second direction
D2.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
* * * * *